Lewis and Clark State Park camping overnight

I had originally planned to take a short cycle trip/overnight with Elly to Lewis and Clark State Park, which was built by the CCC and is fairly close to us- appx 25 miles. The cycling part of it hasn't happened yet, but since we have a planned weekend car camping trip coming up soon, I figured we needed to see how she did- not just in the backyard.

We waited for mom to get home so Elly could say goodnight, and I packed while they ate. Within an hour of leaving the house, we had the tent set up, and the gear we were going to need laid out. We even had time to brew up a cup of hot chocolate! Walking through the woods to the "potty" was a little bit scary, but Elly was was quite brave.

Wrap yourself in a mummy bag, and go crowd surfing... that's kind of what's it's like to be in a two-man tent with a three-year-old. Boot to the head! Headbutt! Straight-arm, etc... After most of a book, she finally settled down and went to sleep, but woke up cold a couple of times because she kept crawling out of her bag. Still, she woke up her normal happy self, raring to go outside.

We made a freezedried breakfast with bananas, and hot chocolate for her and much needed coffee for me. She took some pictures, and is actually able to use our point-n-shoot pretty good. We went for a short hike/stick and pine cone gathering excursion, and found the playground (swings) and ampitheatre (balance beams). We got packed up and gone just as the short night was catching up to her. Quite a success I think.


Hot chocolate and graham crackers


Elly took this as I was explaining a compass to her...


...and trying to figure it out on her own


I just thought this was funny...

It's a deer, in the yard!

During Elly's birthday party, one of our friends asked if we see deer in our yard. As long as we've lived here, I had to say "no". They're around. I see them while I'm at work. There's a herd of elk down the road. But we've never seen deer in the yard. Raccoons, yep, 'possum, check, snakes and bunnies, lots, rogue dogs and cats, by the herd. But squirrels and deer, nope... And then, just a couple days later, we see this-



He stayed long enough to lie around for awhile, get up, eat some greens, eye me suspiciously, and then slowly wander off.

Seeing as how we live where we do, I fully expected to hear a lone gunshot shortly thereafter... but it never came. I guess he made it another day. Elly was super excited and watched until he left.

Pig pen!!

So I decided to build a flagstone patio out back... Seemed like a good idea at the time. Actually it turned out pretty good... but I digress. Once I got it cut down and leveled, I was left with our wonderful northwest red clay base- DRY. Elly, being the prim and proper young lady she is, promptly sat down and began to play with said dry, red clay. Naturally, there was a light breeze to help things along. She was actually quite happy with herself.

4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

0400 hours
05 minutes
06 seconds
July
8th
2009

I can't take credit for realizing this point in time was coming up... Tina heard it somewhere... but I got up early and took the photo of Elly at that point in time.

Elly's got a brand new bike!

"Mom, I want to pedal".

So much for the Like-a-bike we got her last year.

A trip to River City Bikes in Portland, a fitting and test ride (kind of), and a week later a brand new bike.

And yes, somehow, she figured out how to pedal. The turning thing is still a bit tricky though...


"I'm here for my bike" (patiently waiting in the shop on pick-up day).


"The seat's 2mm too high, the stem needs to come back 5mm, and I'd like some clipless pedals please, oh, and I'll take the purple horn"


Look! A trackstand! (never mind the training wheels) I think she likes it...

Our Anniversary

Tina and I got away to Astoria for an overnight trip on our anniversary. Thanks to grandma Roxie for watching Elly for us. For those that don't know, Astoria is a pretty cool town on the Oregon side of the Columbia, near the mouth of the river. There are many cool things there. The maritime museum, Columbia River bar pilots, the Astoria column, and lots of history tucked away in every corner. When we moved to Washington, Astoria was pretty rundown, with remnants of old canneries falling in, lots of eyesores, dilapidated historical buildings, etc. It has turned itself around, or pimped itself out, depending on how you view it. It now boasts a cruise ship- not the little ones, in port each week, there are fancy eateries as well as hip ones. Three brew pubs, rejuvinated historial buildings, restored theatre, etc. We stayed the night in the Cannery Pier Hotel, which was outstanding. It is built in an old cannery, and sits on a pier, right under the Astoria-Megler bridge on the Columbia River. This was a great, relaxing trip, although too short.


I got lucky with this shot, taken right off the deck at the hotel!


Also taken from the deck, looking west towards Cape Disappointment

For more on the history of Astoria and the Hotel, go to www.cannerypierhotel.com and check out the Astoria and history tabs.

Great American Campout

I hope to do a short bike tour/overnight camp with Elly this summer, and we have a camping trip planned for August. So we figured we should see how she handled a night in a tent. I set my trusty touring tent up in the backyard, got out a therma-rest, and her butterfly bag, and her flashlight, and her books, and her stuffed animal, and... well you get the drift. All in all it was a big hit. She didn't go to sleep until late, thanks to our many hours of summer daylight, but she didn't wig out in the tent either. I think we're ready for more adventures.


Our home for the night. Note the play structure in the background, thanks Tracy!


Showing mom how she was going to sleep, what turned out to be much, much later!

Cousin Tracy's annual visit

Elly's Kansas cousin Tracy came to stay for a couple of weeks again this year. As usual, we all had a great time. He helped me do some projects around the house, rode his bike every day, and played the X-box... oh and texted non-stop.


New benches out front, finished with lots 'o Tracy's help


In Elly's new play structure, under construction in this photo


After Elly's Mandarin class, hangin' out

A big thanks to Tracy for all his help. The swings were a HUGE hit. She's on that thing every chance she gets.

Silver Star hike-Brrrrrrr!

If any of the followers still are, I'm going to try and catch up the last few months activities. So first...

Silver Star is a high point in SW Washington. This was supposed to be a great hike with a great view. It was 70's and clear in town, but, well the pics speak volumes. It was a good hike in any case. Fun is what you make of it. We went through part sun, rain, sleet, snow, and back down to pouring rain. Ahh, variety!


Yep, that's snow we're "hiking" on


My partner's at the summit... I know you can't see it but it really is


The view on the way down, there's caves in those rocks


A little side trip of rock-hopping up to explore the caves